OTTAWA and GATINEAU – Four companies in the Toronto area have paid $84,000 in administrative monetary penalties as part of settlements over violations of the telemarketing rules, and have agreed to put a stop to their current telemarketing practices, the CRTC said Wednesday.
The Commission launched an investigation into the marketing practices of Ecosmart Home Services Inc., Loyal Seal Windows and Doors, Home Comfort Group and Mr. Brian Jones (using the trade name Pegasus Peaks) for alleged violations of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules. The CRTC determined that these companies were making, either directly or through a third-party firm, unsolicited telemarketing calls to Canadians who had registered their numbers on the National Do Not Call List, plus failed to register and subscribe with the List operator before making telemarketing calls.
In addition to paying the administrative monetary penalties, the companies agreed to implement internal compliance programs that include the development and implementation of a corporate compliance program, the appointment of an internal compliance officer to ensure ongoing adherence to the unsolicited telecommunications rules, an education and training program for employees, the registration and tracking of telemarketing complaints and their resolution, and the implementation of effective enforcement measures for adherence to corporate compliance policies.
The CRTC also issued a notice of violation to a fifth company, Action Windows and Doors, with a monetary penalty of $24,000. This company was also found to be making unsolicited telemarketing calls to Canadians who had registered their numbers on the National Do Not Call List. In addition, it failed to register and subscribe with the List operator before making telemarketing calls.
"We are committed to ensuring that telemarketers respect the wishes of Canadians who do not want to be bothered by unsolicited calls”, said Manon Bombardier, the CRTC’s chief compliance and enforcement officer, in a statement. “Thanks to the Canadians who complained about these five home-improvement companies and their telemarketing practices, we were able to investigate and take action against them. Anyone who is registered on the National Do Not Call List and who receives an unsolicited call is encouraged to file a complaint."
To date, the CRTC's enforcement actions have yielded over $4 million in administrative monetary penalties, which are remitted to the Receiver General for Canada, and $741,000 in other payments. Over 12 million numbers are currently registered on the list.
